Back to School 2025: Government Deploys Series of Measures to Support Families and the Most Vulnerable

On the occasion of the 25th edition of Mardis de la Nation, the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Georges Wilbert Franck, announced several major actions undertaken on the eve of the 2025-2026 school year: liberation of schools occupied by IDPs, monetary transfers to schoolchildren's parents, financial support for vulnerable households, and special support for workers. Port-au-Prince, Tuesday, October 14, 2025. – In a difficult economic context marked by the rising cost of living and persistent social challenges, the Haitian Government is intensifying its efforts to ease the burden on households. The Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Mr. Georges Wilbert Franck, presented, during Mardis de la Nation, a series of concrete measures aimed at supporting parents, workers, and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Liberation of Schools Occupied by IDPs The liberation of educational institutions occupied by IDPs, the first step of the Multisectoral Emergency Program (PUM), is accelerating. Among the institutions already recovered are the Faculty of Linguistics, Lycée Marie-Jeanne, Lycée Anténor Firmin, and École nationale Colbert Lochard. These actions aim to ensure the normal resumption of school activities while ensuring the dignified and progressive relocation of displaced families. Monetary Transfers to Schoolchildren's Parents To help parents cover back-to-school expenses, approximately 108,000 of them have already received a transfer of 15,000 gourdes via MonCash or Natcom, out of a total target of 200,000 beneficiaries. This measure, part of the Government's social support program, is part of a broader social protection strategy. Concurrently, thanks to the MAST Information System (SYMAS), over 60,000 households will receive direct aid of 15,000 gourdes. These funds, entirely financed by the Government, aim to strengthen the economic resilience of the most vulnerable households. Furthermore, nearly 31,000 workers will benefit from special assistance. Nineteen social projects are also underway, in collaboration with seven ministries and the Economic and Social Assistance Fund (FAES), to address the needs of the most affected communities. However, despite this support, many citizens continue to complain about the high cost of living. According to several testimonies, the aid distributed is not enough to cover families' basic needs, particularly for food, housing, and school supplies. For many, this back-to-school period remains disproportionate to their economic means. A Renewed Commitment Concluding his address, Minister Georges Wilbert Franck reaffirmed the Government's commitment, under the direction of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, to « remain alongside vulnerable families and ensure a successful back-to-school season for all children in Haiti ». A country to rebuild, needs to be met, and these real household needs call for additional efforts to address the scale of the crisis. The Editorial Team May this new stage be filled with meaning, peace, and new momentum. »